Cordelia Botkin was the estranged wife of a prominent businessman in San Francisco in the last decade of the 19th century. She (41 years old) met John Dunning (31) when his bicycle broke down in the park. Botkin made very obvious sexual advances, and consequently Dunning (who was married to a former congressman’s daughter) entered into a torrid affair with her. He eventually left his wife and fell into a life of gambling, sex and alcoholism – all fueled (and financed) by Botkin. He eventually decided to end the affair and return to his wife, a fact of which he informed Botkin. Not wanting to be left alone, she sent a box of poisoned candy to Dunning’s wife made to look like a gift from a friend. Dunning’s wife and five friends and family members ate the chocolate. Four recovered but the wife and her sister died. The remaining chocolates were tested and found to be laced with arsenic. The trail of the candy eventually led back to Botkin, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. In a strange twist to the tale, the judge who sent her to jail saw her out shopping in town a few weeks later; an investigation uncovered the fact that Botkin was exchanging sexual favors in order to be allowed to leave jail whenever she wanted. She died in jail at the age of 56. Her cause of death was: “softening of the brain due to melancholy.”

At first I wasn't sure how, or if, Cordelia was one of my BOTKIN ancestors. The article doesn't mention the name of her estranged husband. However, a quick Google search revealed that her husband was Welcome A. BOTKIN.

This is when my heart really started pounding....I have a Welcome A. BOTKIN in my family tree! Problem was I had his wife listed as Della Brown. I learned very quickly that Della was a nickname for Cordelia Adelaide Brown, the real name of his wife and the psychopathic killer the article is written about!

Welcome is the son of Charles and Dorcas BOTKIN and I just started doing further research on their children. I've only gotten through child number 2 out of 12. Since Welcome is number 10 it would have been awhile before I started digging into his story.

Not anymore, receiving this latest Google Alert moved him right to the top of my research list! I can't wait to see what I can learn about Welcome, Cordelia and their son Beverley! If you are as curious about them as I then follow along! Tomorrow I'll post Part 2 of their story!

Jennifer, no I don't need to add anything special to my alerts because me surnames are uncommon enough. I can see the need to filter more common names, maybe by adding a location. Carol, you are so right! The "bad" ancestors are so interesting to research! Greta, be sure and let me know what you find through the alerts! I've had mine out there for over a year but lately they have paid off big time! And, thanks for bringing Linda and Kathy to my blog! Happy searching everyone!

Preserve the Pensions!

About Me

I have been tromping through cemeteries since I was a little girl. As the daughter of a mother deeply involved in family research every vacation included a visit to a cemetery! Now all grown up and actively involved in my own genealogy research, I have found a passion in preserving and restoring old cemeteries. In my free time I volunteer for Find a Grave. If we share a common surname please contact me! I would be glad to share and exchange information with you.